French authorities have confirmed two arrests linked to the 19 October 2025 theft at the Louvre, with both suspects said to have partially recognised their role. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau told reporters the stolen French crown jewels, valued by officials at €88m, have not been recovered and investigators are examining whether the group extended beyond the four people captured on CCTV.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the men-both in their thirties and with prior records-were identified through DNA traces recovered during the inquiry. One suspect was detained while attempting to board a one-way flight to Algeria; Ms Beccuau clarified that the second suspect had not planned to leave France, correcting earlier media reports. At this stage, investigators see no evidence of an inside accomplice at the museum.
Ms Beccuau outlined an eight-minute window. The robbers arrived at about 09:30, shortly after opening, using a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to reach a balcony of the Galerie d’Apollon. A disc cutter was used to breach display cases; the thieves were inside for around four minutes and left at 09:38 on two scooters before switching to cars heading east. No visitors or staff were threatened, the prosecutor said.
The prosecutor also criticised the premature disclosure of operational information following the arrests, arguing that it hindered efforts to recover the jewels and identify additional perpetrators. Analysis: For cultural institutions and police forces, the case underscores that controlling sensitive information during a live investigation is a core protective measure alongside physical security.
In parallel with the criminal inquiry, security measures have been tightened across France’s cultural institutions, according to statements cited by the prosecutor. The Louvre has transferred selected high-value jewels to the Bank of France for safekeeping, where they will be held in the central bank’s most secure vault approximately 26 metres below ground.
Should the jewels move across borders, recovery efforts would draw on established frameworks. Within the EU, Directive 2014/60/EU provides for the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from a Member State, while Regulation (EU) 2019/880 sets import rules for cultural goods. Internationally, France operates under the 1970 UNESCO Convention and uses Interpol’s stolen works of art database to support cross-jurisdictional action.
Analysis: The method described by prosecutors-rapid elevation access via a mechanical lift, power tools against vitrines, and a swift exfiltration-highlights familiar pressure points in museum risk planning. Institutions reviewing controls will weigh stricter balcony access, higher-resistance display cases with longer delay times, and pre-authorised police interventions for daytime breaches.
Analysis: The prosecutor’s warning on premature disclosures points to the need for disciplined communications protocols. During major thefts, delayed release of tactical details, centralised media handling, and limited distribution of CCTV or forensic updates can materially improve recovery prospects while maintaining lawful transparency.
Ms Beccuau said she remains hopeful the jewels will be found and returned. A crown once belonging to Empress Eugénie was dropped during the escape and is undergoing assessment by conservators. With two suspects in custody and enquiries continuing into possible additional actors, the case will test France’s cultural security posture and, if export is attempted, the agility of cross-border coordination.